International Physiotherapy Group for Cystic Fibrosis
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WINNERS OF THE NOVARTIS BEST CARE SCHOLARHIP 2008
Prepared by Filip Van Ginderdeuren, 12 April
2008.
Novartis offers us 4000 euro for the Novartis Best Care Scholarship. This gives
us the opportunity to choose 2 winners each year among the participants of the Novartis Best Care
Scholarship.
Manar Adnan Jaber
Manar Adnan
Jaber from the Children’s Relief Bethlehem Caritas Baby Hospital in Bethlehem, Palestine is our
first winner of the 2008 Novartis Best Care Scholarship. She works for over a year with CF patients,
approximately seven hours a week depending on the number of CF patients admitted in hospital. She
plans to study and undertake practical training at the Free University Hospital of Brussels (UZ
Brussel) and at the Zeepreventorium in Belgium under the supervision of Filip Van Ginderdeuren and
Frederic Lessire.
In Palestine, the health care for CF is not well organized. There are no
statistical data on numbers of CF patients, no specialized CF centers or centres offering
specialized respiratory care. There is no awareness towards CF nor from medical point of view, nor
from the families with CF patients.
CF is diagnosed late, after recurrent chest infections or
severely failure to thrive. A lot of CF children are in a very bad condition when admitted for the
first time in hospital. After discharge from hospital, there is no organized follow-up for these
patients.
She wants to further her theoretical knowledge in exercise training and improve her
practical skills of the different modern airway clearance techniques. She is also very interested in
the treatment of babies and non-cooperating patients with CF. Manar wants to disseminate the
acquired knowledge and skills, by creating a protocol for the hospitalized CF patients and follow-up
after discharge from hospital in cooperation with the medical staff. She will be a “pioneer” in the
treatment of CF patients in Palestine.
Sylvie
Vanlaethem
Sylvie
Vanlaethem from the CF clinic of the Free University Hospital of Brussels (UZ Brussel ) is the
second winner of our Novartis Best Care Scholarship 2008. Sylvie is working for 8 years with 150 CF
patients of all ages. Her main reason to choose the CF centre in Lund under the supervision of
Louise Lannefors, is the unique treatment philosophy of this centre. Physiotherapy is introduced
from the day of diagnosis. Their aim is to develop an effective daily routine for each patient that
maintains good physical condition and prevents lung disease and destruction of lung tissue for as
long as possible. They have a particular approach for the CF patient and their family, including
active involvement in the treatment strategies. Airway Clearance, physical activity and exercise
training is included in the daily life as soon as possible. Adherence to therapy is frequently
assessed.
This particular way of approaching the CF patient and his family and their good
outcome has attracted her attention.
She believes that every CF centre has its own specific
qualities regarding CF physiotherapy approach, evaluation modalities or treatment strategies.
Exchanging ideas between different CF centres gives her the opportunity to discuss and improve the
treatment quality.
Disseminating the acquired knowledge and skills to our CF patients can be
done through daily clinical practice during hospital stays or consultations. She plans to share her
experience with the other team members and physiotherapists during our weekly CF group meetings and
with other physiotherapists during an IPG/CF Belgium symposium. She will also write an article for
the Respira Libre, the journal of the Belgian Association for Respiratory Physiotherapists.
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